Portable, lightweight imprinting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Imprinting apparatus employs multiple clamping rollers relatively movable over different indicia to clamp sheet means against the indicia to achieve successful imprinting despite differential heights of the indicia.

United States Patent [1 1 McInnis [4 1 *Oct. 1, 1974 PORTABLE, LIGHTWEIGHT IMPRINTING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Andrew M. Mclnnis, Covina, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Design III, Monrovia, Calif.

[ Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to June 28, 1990, has been disclaimed.

[221' Filed: May 29, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 364,894

[52] U.S. C1. 101/269 [51] Int. Cl B41f 3/04 [58] Field of Search 101/269-274, 101/250 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,694,975 11/1954 Garner 101/250 X 10/1966 Wilson 101/269 3,446,144 5/1969 Frampton et al. 101/269 3,516,356 6/1970 Nantz 101/269 3,661,080 5/1972 Laws 101/269 3,665,854 5/1972 Maziarka 101/269 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Edward M. Coven Attorney; Agent, or FirmWilliam W. Haefliger 5 7 ABSTRACT Imprinting apparatus employs multiple clamping rollers relatively movable over different indicia to clamp sheet means against the indicia to achieve successful imprinting despite differential heights of the indicia.

13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PORTABLE, LIGHTWEIGHT IMPRINTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally'to printing apparatus, and more particularly concerns the provision of a lightweight imprinter capable of suitably imprinting a large number of stacked sheets, and without smudging.

In certain printing operations, one example being the pressing of a sheet against raised indicia, the sheet may become clamped between the pressure exerting body, such as a roller for example, and support structure at locations offset from the raised indicia on the base. Such clamping may commonly produce uncontrolled and unwanted smudging of the sheet in instances for examples where there is material associated with the sheet which, when clamped, will mark the sheet. Examples are carbon paper, and so-called NCR paper. This problem becomes acute in imprinters where different rows of indicia are raised only slightly from the support structure such as a carrier, and to different heights, one example being plastic or metal cards which have been embossed to form the indicia. There has been no prior solution to this background smudging problem, to my knowledge, which offers the unusual advantages in structure, function and results now afforded by the present invention. Also, prior imprinters could not easily accommodate varying thicknesses of sheets or forms being processed, leading to a different feel" of the equipment when changes in form thickness occurred; and prior imprinters required close tolerances as respects relatively movable parts, leading to objectionably high cost, and malfunction in the field. These problems increase in intensity in lightweight imprinters of plastic construction, due to excessive deflections of imprinter components and resulting from transmission of high clamping forces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the invention to provide lightweight imprinting apparatus overcoming the above as well as other problems encountered in this field, as will appear.

Basically, the invention is embodied in apparatus adapted for use with indicia carrier means (as for example one or more indicia bearing cards or plates) engageable with sheet means placed against multiple rows of indicia which may have different heights. Typically, the sheet means may comprise a stack of one or more sheets. The apparatus comprises a base to support the indicia carrier means with the indicia presented away from the base and toward the sheet means; multiple clamping rollers relatively and respectively movable over different indicia on the carrier means to clamp the sheet means against the indicia; and stop structure projecting from the base to block clamping of the sheet means between the rollers and carrier means while permitting clamping of the sheet means between the rollers and raised indicia. Typically, the rollers may have clamping surfaces which are staggered along the direction of relative movement as referred to, so that different rollers may clamp different portions of the sheet means toward different indicia, i.e., one roller may clamp the sheet means toward a row of indicia of one height, and another roller may clamp the sheet means toward a row of indicia of another height, with resulting successful imprinting despite the differential heights of the indicia. Also, the stop structure may extend lengthwise of the path of roller relative movement to be overlapped by the different rollers during such movement, in order to prevent uncontrolled smudging.

Additional objects include tapering of the roller clamping surfaces to compensate for beam deflection of the rollers in response to clamping load transmission; the provision of multiple clamping rollers with trunnions engageable with guide shoulders angled toward the base to guide the rollers toward the base for creation of clamping force in response to relative movement of the base and rollers; and the provision of additional rollers at the underside of the base to receive clamping force loading as will appear.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings, in which:

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a plan view of an imprinter uncorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is side elevation of the FIG. I imprinter;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3, during imprinting;

FIG. 5 an enlarged section taken on lines S5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on lines 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view taken in section on lines 77 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an elevation taken in section on lines 8-8 of FIG 4;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken in elevation and illustrating the mode of operation of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is an elevation taken through a printable sheet or sheet assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Printing apparatus employing the invention is adapted for use with a carrier or carriers for raised indicia engageable with a sheet placed over the indicia. In the example seen in FIG. 9, the apparatus 9 is adapted for use with carriers as for example are represented by station plate 10 and card 11 on which raised indicia 10a and 11a project upwardly to engage a stack of printable sheets 13 placed over the indicia. The card 11 may for example comprise a plastic credit card, and plate 10 may be metallic, the invention having special utility in point of sale applications where such cards and plates are used.

As base is provided to support the indicia carriers with the indicia presented away from the base for engagement with the sheet stack, one such base appearing at 14 and representing for example a card holder or base frame, or both. Further. clamping rollers 15 and 16 are relatively movable transversely over the indicia on the respective carriers to progressively clamp the sheet against the latter; and rail or stop means projects from the base to block clamping of the sheet between the clamping element and the surfaces 10b and 11b of the carriers. In this regard, the printable sheet may consist of any sheet capable of having an indicia image formed or printed thereon when pressed toward the indicia. Merely as an example, the sheet or sheet assembly seen in FIG. includes layers 13a, 13b and 130, the middle layer consisting of pressure sensitive carbon paper facing toward either or both of sheets 13a and 13c. Other printable sheets or composites may be employed, and so-called NCR paper may be used, the latter containing tiny capsules of ink which rupture when pressurized. In the past, the sheet 13 has been subject to unwanted and uncontrolled background smudging due to uncontrolled clamping of the sheet extent which does not directly overlie the projecting indicia 10a and 11a. Such smudging could and often did occur closely adjacent the printed images of the indicia on the sheet, interfering with reading of such indicia.

The stop may with unusual advantage take the form of a stop shoulder 18a on a rail 18 extending generally lengthwise of the path of roller relative movement, i.e., normal to the plane of FIG. 9. The sheet 13 or sheet stack normally overlies the rail and is clamped against the rail excepting when clamped against the projections. At such times, the rollers are slightly elevated above the rail or rails as shown. FIG. 9 also illustrates the fact that despite projection of indicia 10a and 11a to different levels above the base 14, the staggering of the roller clamping surfaces 15a and 16a enables clamping of the sheet stack against the indicia with desired imprinting effect. Thus, clamping surface 15a overlies indicia 10a but not indicia 11a, whereas roller clamping surface 16a overlies indicia 11a but not indicia 10a.

Extending the description to FIGS. 1-8, the invention is there embodied in a lightweight, portable imprinter 20, which may be so inexpensively and simply constructed of plastic material as to be virtually dispensable. As there illustrated, guide means is provided to guide lengthwise movement of the base 14 relative to rollers 15 and 16, to enable the desired clamping of the sheet 13 or sheet stack. The guide means may take the form of elongated slots or ways 21 formed by side walls of housing structure 22, these ways slidably receiving edge portions of the base. The housing structure extends at 23 over the upper rollers 15 and 16, and also beneath lower rollers 24 and 25, at 26. In this regard, the housing structure, rollers and base may all consist of lightweight plastic material. Note that the housing forms inlet and outlet openings 27 and 28 for receiving and passing the base 14 which is here shown in the form of a panel moving between the upper rollers 15 and 16 and the lower rollers 24 and 25.Opening 27 is formed between housing walls 29 and 30, whereas opening 28 is formed between housing walls 31 and 32.

Also included are guide shoulders, as for example are formed at 36 and 37 in side walls 35, to engage opposite end trunnions 38 defined by roller 15, and at 39 and 40 in the same walls to engage opposite end trunnions 41 of roller 16. Such shoulders are angled toward the base to guide the rollers 15 and 16 toward the base in the direction of travel of the base relative to the rollers, indicated by arrow 42 in FIG. 4. The angularity of the shoulders, indicated at a is such (as for example between about 4 and 8 from a plane parallel to the base) as to frictionally urge the rollers into clamping relation with the sheet 13 or sheet stack. Lower rollers 24 and 25 may have end trunnions 24a and 25a journaled in bores 60 and 61 formed in housing end walls 35.

The base or panel 14 incorporates a pull handle 45 at one end thereof and there are associated shoulders 46 engageable with the housing structure at 47 to block disassembly of the base from the roller housing structure. The base or panel is recessed at 48 and 49 to removably and peripherally receive and locate first and second indicia carriers, as for example plate 10 and card 11 previously referred to. Note that these recesses may closely fit the card and plate, and that one or more finger recesses 50 may be formed in the panel 14 adjacent the card or plate recesses to permit removal of the card or plate.

The stop or rail 18 extends lengthwise of the base 14 between the card and plate, and corresponds in its function to the previously described stop or rail 18, as related to the indicia l0a and 11a and the sheet 13 or sheet stack. The rail extends beyond the indicia in an endwise direction, in order to induce rotation of the rollers 15 and 16 prior to arrival of the latter over the indicia, thereby to prevent sudden skewing of the sheet. Note that the mid-portionslSb and 16b of the rollers 15 and 16 project directly over the rail 18. Also, the clamping surfaces 15a and 16a are tapered toward the trunnions to slight extent. This compensates for beam deflection of the rollers, when loaded during clamping of the sheet toward the indicia, so that the, clamping surfaces then extend flatly over the indicia. Lower rollers 24 and 25 may likewise be endwise tapered at 2412 and 25b, as seen in FIG. 8, the taper being exaggerated A liftable and flexible transparent flap extends on the base over the recesses 48 and 49 for protectively covering the sheet 13 placed beneath the flap and over the indicia 10a and 11a, during carriage of the sheet on the base between the rollers. One end of the flap may be bonded to the base, as at 56, and the opposite end 57 of the flap may be liftable, for insertion and removal of the sheet or sheet stack.

It will be noted that the device of FIGS. 8-l2 provides for automatic adjustment to accommodate various sheet or form assembly thicknesses all with the same clamping pressure so that the feel of the apparatus remains the same during usage; tolerances as respect movableparts are not close so that high quality and expense are avoided.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for imprinting a sheet,

a. a carrier having indicia thereon and a base to support the indicia carrier with the indicia raised relative to the main extent of the carrier and presented away from the base for engagement with the sheet,

b. rail means extending lengthwise along and projecting outwardly relative to the base less than the indicia but further than the main extent of the carrier 0. multiple pressure rollers relatively movable lengthwise of and over the rail means and over the indicia to urge the sheet thereagainst, and means for urging each roller toward the indicia and the rail means during said roller relative movement and carrying the roller to have a first spacing from the base in which the roller is supported bythe indicia during one portion of said roller relative movement, and to have a second spacing from the base in which the roller is supported by the rail means during another portion of said roller relative movement, the carrier extent other than the indicia remaining free of direct pressurization by the roller when the roller has said second spacing from the base during said other portion of roller relative movement, the rail means underlying the rollers when the rollers overlie .the indicia, and

(1. support means resiliently supporting the base.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rollers have clamping surfaces which are staggered along the direction of said relative movement of the rollers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said rail means extends lengthwise of the path of said roller relative movement to be overlapped by the rollers during said movement.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the rollers have endwise projecting trunnions, and the roller clamping surfaces taper endwise toward said trunnions.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein there are at least two of said rollers located in side-by-side relation.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including guide means for guiding movement of the base relative to said rollers to enable said clamping.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said support means includes additional rollers respectively located opposite said clamping rollers.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for urging each roller toward the indicia includes guide shoulders engageable with trunnions defined by the rollers, said shoulders angled toward the base to guide the rollers toward the base in the direction of travel of the base relative to the rollers.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 including a housing for said rollers and carrying said guide shoulders.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said support means includes additional rollers respectively at the side of the base opposite the clamping rollers.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 including said carrier means in the form of at least two carrier plates peripherally retained by the base.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the additional rollers have opposite end trunnions journal supported by the housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 including a flexible plastic flap carried by the base to overlie the sheet means and to be engaged by said rollers to transfer clamping force to the sheet means. 

1. In apparatus for imprinting a sheet, a. a carrier having indicia thereon and a base to support the indicia carrier with the indicia raised relative to the main extent of the carrier and presented away from the base for engagement with the sheet, b. rail means extending lengthwise along and projecting outwardly relative to the base less than the indicia but further than the main extent of the carrier c. multiple pressure rollers relatively movable lengthwise of and over the rail means and over the indicia to urge the sheet thereagainst, and means for urging each roller toward the indicia and the rail means during said roller relative movement and carrying the roller to have a first spacing from the base in which the roller is supported by the indicia during one portion of said roller relative movement, and to have a second spacing from the base in which the roller is supported by the rail means during another portion of said roller relative movement, the carrier extent other than the indicia remaining free of direct pressurization by the roller when the roller has said second spacing from the base during said other portion of roller relative movement, the rail means underlying the rollers when the rollers overlie the indicia, and d. support means resiliently supporting the base.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rollers have clamping surfaces which are staggered along the direction of said relative movement of the rollers.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said rail means extends lengthwise of the path of said roller relative movement to be overlapped by the rollers during said movement.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the rollers have endwise projecting trunnions, and the roller clamping surfaces taper endwise toward said trunnions.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein there are at least two of said rollers located in side-by-side relation.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 including guide means for guiding movement of the base relative to said rollers to enable said clamping.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said support means includes additional rollers respectively located opposite said clamping rollers.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for urging each roller toward the indicia includes guide shoulders engageable with trunnions defined by the rollers, said shoulders angled toward the base to guide the rollers toward the base in the direction of travel of the base relative to the rollers.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 including a housing for said rollers and carrying said guide shoulders.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said support means includes additional rollers respectively at the side of the base opposite the clamping rollers.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 including said carrier means in the form of at least two carrier plates periPherally retained by the base.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the additional rollers have opposite end trunnions journal supported by the housing.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8 including a flexible plastic flap carried by the base to overlie the sheet means and to be engaged by said rollers to transfer clamping force to the sheet means. 